Mirza Ghalib

arz-e-niyaaz-e-ishq ke qaabil nahii.n rahaa
jis dil pe naaz thaa mujhe vo dil nahii.n rahaa

[niyaaz = offering]

jaataa huu.N daaG-e-hasarat-e-hastii liye hue
huu.N shammaa-e-kushtaa daraKhur-e-mahafil nahii.n rahaa

[shammaa-e-kushtaa = extinguished lamp; daraKhur = worthy]

marane kii ai dil aur hii tadabiir kar ki mai.n
shaayaan-e-dast-o-baazuu-e-qaatil nahii.n rahaa

[tadabiir = solution/remedy; shaayaan = worthy; dast = hand]

ba-ruu-e-shash jihat dar-e-aa_iinaabaaz hai
yaa.N imtiaaz-e-naakis-o-qaamil nahii.n rahaaa

[ba-ruu = in front; shash = six; jihat = direction]
[imtiaz = distinction, naakis = incomplete, qaamil = complete]

aah ko chaahiye ik umr asar hone tak
kaun jiitaa hai terii zulf ke sar hone tak

daam har mauj me.n hai halqaa-e-sad_kaam-e-nahang
dekhe.n kyaa guzare hai qatare pe gauhar hone tak
[daam = net/trap; mauj = wave; halqaa = ring/circle]
[sad = hundred; nahang = crocodile; gauhar = pearl]

aashiqii sabr-talab aur tamannaa betaab
dil kaa kyaa rang karuu.N Khuun-e-jigar hone tak

[sabr-talab=patient]

ham ne maanaa ke taGaaful na karoge lekin
Khaak ho jaaye.nge ham tum ko Khabar hone tak
[taGaaful=neglect/ignore]

“What if we demolish the ego, dig under the ruins, as Rumi tells us to, andinstead of finding the divine Friend, we find just the ground we’re standing on? Ghalib and Robert Bly face this stark possibility with their fine, blended gaze.”